When WCS front office administrator Tammy Sumner walked across the stage at Temple University this spring to receive her bachelor's degree, she accomplished a goal more than a decade in the making.
Tammy, who has been a member of the Wissahickon Charter School team for over a decade, had been just a few credits shy of her degree for years, after the birth of her daughter in 2015. During that time, she joined Wissahickon Charter School, where she now serves as the beloved front office administrator at our Fernhill Campus, offering guidance, encouragement, and—when needed—a little tough love to generations of Fernhill students.
While Tammy's education had been on hold, the dream never disappeared. This year, thanks in part to funding provided through The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust's Transformation Award, Tammy became one of five WCS employees to receive tuition reimbursement to help complete a degree or certification program.
For more than a decade, The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust has partnered with WCS to support our mission. Last year, that longstanding partnership reached a new level when the Trust awarded Wissahickon Charter School a two-year Transformation Award, providing $25,000 annually in unrestricted funding to strengthen staff recruitment, retention, and professional growth.
At a time when schools nationwide continue to face staffing shortages and increasing competition for talented educators, investing in the people already serving students has never been more important. Transformation Award funding has allowed Wissahickon to expand tuition reimbursement, increase professional learning opportunities, and strengthen pathways for future teachers through our Assistant and Apprentice Teacher programs.
The impact extends well beyond the employees who receive these opportunities. When talented educators and staff members continue to grow their careers at Wissahickon, students benefit from stronger relationships, greater continuity, and the experience of professionals who are continually building their skills.
Tammy's achievement offers a glimpse of what is possible when those opportunities are available. Her story is one of determination and perseverance, but it is also a reminder that success rarely happens alone. It requires support, encouragement, and access to resources.
Tammy's story reminds us that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen schools—and we are grateful to The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust and all of our supporters for making those investments possible.
To learn more about Tammy's journey to earning her degree, read Temple University's feature on her graduation story.
